Boiler stand



Dec. 4, 1928. c F. COLE 1,694,000

BoILER STAND Filed April 9, 1923 iff I `IN TOR. aff/Haw A TTORNEY,

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES cHARLEsr. COLE, or HUNTINGTON, wnsr VIRGINIA.

BOILER STAND.

Application filed April 9, 1923.

My invention consists of a new and improved stand for vertically disposed hot water boilers.

One of the objects which I have in view is the provision of a device, for the purpose described, which is adjustable so as to accommodate itself to various diameters of boilers, and also which will permit of adjusting the boiler to any elevation above the floor which may be desired. 4

Another object which I have in view is the provision of a boiler stand whichwill provide a more firm and stable supportfor the boiler, and which cannot be readily knocked or forcedA laterally from position.

Adjustable boiler stands which may be arranged to accommodate boilers of different diameters have been patented; and also stands which will permit of varying the elevation of the boiler, but such standshave been of the central or axial pedestal type, and

as far as my knowledge goes such stands have never been capable of adjustment bothto different boiler diameters and elevations.

A cardinal objection to the axial pedestal type of stand is its lack of stability, the pipe connections being usually relied upon to steady the boiler and always taking the strain and torque in case the boiler tips or receives a lateral thrust. Again, if the floor or surface on which the boiler' is erected is uneven or not truly horizontal, the boiler is not firmly supported nor will it be vertical, all of which makes the boiler insecure and puts a dangerous strain on the piping. Again it requires at least two workmen to erect a boiler'on a pedestal stand, one being required to support and retain the boiler in its vertical position,

while the other workman connects the piping to the tank.

that the boiler may be readily supported ina truly vertical and level position even on an irregularsurface or ioor or on arsurface or floor which is not horizontal.

The legs are connected and braced so that they cannot be accidentally knocked orV shifted out of osition; and means are provided whereby they may be adjusted toward er Serial No 630,694.

away from the common center or aXis of the' boiler so as to accommodate boilers of different diameters. Y

Means are also provided for bracing the legs to prevent their being forced out of their vertical position by al lateral kick or blow.

I prefer to form my improved legs of lsheet metal of suitable gauge which is bent up into cylindrical form and fastened.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description. i

In the accompanying drawings, which are however merely intended to illustrate a practical embodiment of the principles of my invention without limiting the scope of the latter to the construction shown, Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a hot water boilersupportedby a stand embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is an'enlarged elevation of yone of the legs; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of thesame; Fig. 4 is a broken section of the leg taken along the line-IV-IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a top plan-view of the connecting member; Fig. 6 is a diametric section of the connecting member showing a modification, and Fig. 7 is a. perspective ofone yof the struts or braces. f

The following is a detailed description of the drawings. y

The boiler A is supported by three or more .extensible legs B, the bottom'flange l of the boiler resting directly on the tops of the legs which latter are equally spaced apart around the axis of the stand.

ment. vrIlhus I have shown the spiralthreads 2 of the lower element B2 screwed up into the i threads 3 of the upper element B". Thus the length of each leg may be adjusted so that the tops of the legs will be in the same horizontal plane, thus supporting. the tank in a truly vertical position, and at any desired elevation. The lower leg element B2 is provided witha laterallyextended foot to maintain a firm bearing on the ground or floor. Thus I have shown a sleeve 4 which may be forcedV up intothe interior of the element B2 and which is provided with a horizontally eX- tended annular vflanged forming the foot v of the leg. The Harige 4: may-be pierced with screw hbles so that the leg may be `lirmly anchored to the floor.

The leg elements may be of `pipe or other tubing. I prefer to form the same by bending up into tubular form sheet metal of sufficient gauge and stiffness, Welding or otherwise securing the edges of the sheet to form a permanent tube. The threads 2 and 3 may `thenbc spun in the metal or thesame may be pressed or rolled in the dat blanks beforethe latter are bent up into tubes. The upper end of the lower element B? is preferably unthreaded7 fitting the upper unthreaded portion of the upper element Il `with suflicient -loosenessto give clearance for connecting the bracing struts, as will bedescribed.

The upper end of the blank from which `the upper leg element B is formed is provided with an integral tongue which is bent over horizontally to close the upper end of the leg against'the entrance of water whichymightcause rusting within the leg. Theupperend of said blankis also provided with a longer tongue which is -bentover intoa horizontal position over the tongue and which-entends at right angles to the leg to form the bracket 7 by means `ol which the to of the leg is anchored to the center mem er `C. At its outer end or basesaid tongue 7 is cut to form the spur f8 which projects upwardly to lbear against the outer side ofthe flangev 1 of the tank A. At either side the bracket 7 is notched, as at 9, tor rovide clearance for the spurs 10 eutfrom t e tongue 6 and bent up` wardlyso as to engage the flange 1 of the tank A from within. Thus there can be no lateral movement between `the tank and the Y legs upon which its bottom flangeV 1 rests.

The bracket 7 is supported in its position, as by a diagonal strut 11 extending between the upper leg member and the end of the i bracket I show a convenient type of strut formed by longitudinally folding a narrow strip of sheet metal. The upper end of the fold is split *to form a pair of tongues 12 which are inserted `through a rectangular and snugly {it-tinor hole 13 in the outer enduof the bracket 7. e tongues are of less width than the strut thus `forming the shoulder 14 which bears upwerrcillyV against and supports the bracket 7, while the tongues rotruding throughtihe hole 13 are upset and ent down j dat nto-loek the end of the brace tothe bracket. The hole 13 is positioned in a depression 15 in the bracket, so that thc bent down "tongues do not project above the general plane of then bracket. The lower Vend of the strut is provided with a pair of` laterally extending ears lwhich are inserted through a slottedhole 17 in the wall of the upper leg in ember B and are bent fiat' against the interior Wallof the brace so as not to interfere with the iupper end of the lower leg member B. The :tower end of the strut is also provided with shoul ders 18 which bear against the exterior o the leg member B. If desired t-he struts may be V.riveted to the legs.

Any other suitable manner of supporting and bracing the bracket 7 may be used.

The center member C is shown in the form ofameta'l ring,eithcr stamped or cast, as may be desired. `The i'un'ction of the member C is to `connect theupperends of the several legs t`ogether, and therefore said memberinced not be annular in shape, but is soshownasita preferred `form. The member is shown provided with a central aperture 19, which econ vomizes material and also enables the use Thus I have shown the member C provided with equally spaced apartV groups of radially arranged `holes 20 into which are upwardly inserted the spurs 21 cut from the material of the brackets 7 7 the ends of the spurs being bent down snu against the top surface ofthe member C. hus the 'legs are anchored to `the center member and eannotbe spread apart or then` relation altered while so attached.

I have shown the brackets 7 provided with a pair of longitudinally alined spurs 21and the grouper holes 20in the member 'C spaced the same distance apart as the spurs 21 but the number of holes in each group exceeding the number of spurs. Thus Vby engaging the spurs withieither the outermost pair of the `three holes 20, or the innermost pair `ot theV same, the'legs maybeset farther out from or nearer to the axis of the stand, thus properly positioning the legs relative to the flange 1 ot the particular dia-meter olf-boiler tio be sapported. The diameters of boilers most in use -azre twelve and iourteenl inches so I have shownthecenter memberC arranged fortwo leg adjustments, but by incneasingthe nuanber of holes 20 in each radial group any de- .ired number of adjustments may be provided To further brace the lege against lateral or side thrust or displacement I .may provide additional; struts 22. shown in dotted lines in Fig. '2, similar to the struts13, and having their lower ends engaged in holes 23 in the sides of the upper leg members B at Veither sidefof the hole 17 and having their upper ends engaged in holes24 in the member C :at

either side of the bracket 7. To permit-of two or more sets of holes 24, depending upon the number of adjustments vto be provided for, are provided in the member C.

It is evident from the foregoing that my improved stand amply provides for rigidly supporting boilers of different diameters at various elevations, and that the boilers are stably supported in a truly vertical position. It is also evident that any uneveness or inclination in the floor may be readily compensated for without impairing the vertical position of the boiler. It is further evident that the boiler may be erected by a single workman, since he can first assemble and erect the stand and then lift and mount the boilerthereon without aid, thus saving both time and expense.

Hot water boilers are frequently installed in basements and cellars having relatively low ceilings, so that the conventional type of stands are unsuitable.

In such case my improved stand works a decided advantage as the boiler may thus be set low enough to clear the ceiling and to give ample clearance for the pipe connections.

It is further evident that the legs cannot be displaced by a lateral thrust or blow and that no strain or torque will be conveyed to the piping. j

The boiler rests on the legs, giving a direct vertical thrust without torque.

No bolts or screws are required to set up the stand and mount the boiler thereon. This greatly facilitates theoperation of installing or removing a boiler, and reduces the time and labor required.

My improved stand is very convenient forl shipping and handling, as it may be packed in a pasteboard carton or other suitable container, and may be distributed to the job in packed condition. This facilitates handling and distribution from manufacturer through the jobbers and plumbers to the consumer.

Although for the sake of clearly illustrating the principles of my invention I have described in detail the embodiment of the same shown in the drawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereby but claim broadly 1. A boiler stand having a series of equi- .distantly spaced legs, each leg comprising a axis of the legs for supporting the boiler, a retaining lug projecting upwardly from the top of each leg and adapted to be positioned against the outer face of the flanged bottom edge ofthe boiler, a pair of relatively spaced lugs positioned inwardly of each retaining lug and adapted to be disposed against the inner surface of the fianged bottom edge of the boiler, and a disc like ring secured to the top of the tongues for holding the legs in fixed relation to each other. i

3. In a stand for supporting a boiler in a vertically disposed position, the combination of a plurality of tubular legs equally spaced apart `and upon which the flanged bottom edge of the boiler rests, a plurality of radially spaced lugs projecting upwardly from the top of each of said legs andbetween which the flanged bottom edge of the boiler fits, a tongue on the topv of said legs having upwardly struck spurs, and a disc like ring on the tongues provided with apertures for receiving said spurs for retaining the legs in fixed relation to each other.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 5th day of April, 1923.

CHARLES F. coLE. 

